2014 elections review: Recapping state legislative primaries in six states

On May 20, 2014, primary elections took place in Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania. There were 246 (14.0%) of the 1762 possible contested primaries. One hundred and forty-eight (60.1%) of those contested primaries featured an incumbent. Twenty-two (14.9%) incumbents, 7 Democrats and 15 Republicans, lost their primary election.

Arkansas

May 20 elections in Arkansas saw a total of 26 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for four Republican primaries in the Arkansas State Senate. The Arkansas House of Representatives held 4 Democratic primaries and 18 Republican primaries. In those elections, eight incumbents faced primary competition; three in the Senate and five in the House. Challengers defeated one incumbent in the Senate and two incumbents in the House in the primary elections.

Georgia

May 20 elections in Georgia saw a total of 62 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for ten Democratic and nine Republican primaries in the Georgia State Senate. The Georgia House of Representatives held 12 Democratic primaries and 31 Republican primaries. In those elections, 48 incumbents faced primary competition; 12 in the Senate and 36 in the House. Challengers defeated two incumbents in the Senate and three incumbents in the House in the primary elections.

District 9: Michael A. "Mike" Beaudreau defeated incumbent Don Balfour (R) in the Republican primary. Timothy Swiney (D) will face the Republican nominee in the general election. Balfour first took office in 1993, but was suspended for two months in 2013 after he was indicted on felony charges. He was eventually acquitted of all charges and reinstated.

Idaho

May 20 elections in Idaho saw a total of 42 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for 11 Republican primaries in the Idaho State Senate. The Idaho House of Representatives held 6 Democratic primaries and 25 Republican primaries. In those elections, 31 incumbents faced primary competition; 9 in the Senate and 22 in the House. Challengers defeated two incumbents in the Senate and four incumbents in the House in the primary elections.

Kentucky

May 20 elections in Kentucky saw a total of 119 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for one Democratic primary and five Republican primaries in the Kentucky State Senate. The Kentucky House of Representatives held 10 Democratic primaries and 13 Republican primaries. In those elections, fourteen incumbents faced primary competition; three in the Senate and 11 in the House. Challengers defeated one incumbent in the Senate and one incumbent in the House in the primary elections.

District 18: Incumbent Tim Moore (R) of District 26 is running for the seat of the retiring Dwight Butler. Moore defeated Stephen L. Meredith in the Republican primary and is unopposed in the general election.

Oregon

May 20 elections in Oregon saw a total of 20 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for one Republican primary in the Oregon State Senate. The Oregon House of Representatives held 7 Democratic primaries and 12 Republican primaries. In those elections, five incumbents faced primary competition; all in the House. Challengers defeated only one incumbent in the House in the primary elections.

House

Nineteen primary contests were held in the Oregon House of Representatives. Five incumbents, two Democrats and three Republicans, faced primary competition. One incumbent, Jim Thompson (R), was defeated in his primary. In one district, District 9, the race is still too close to call.

Pennsylvania

May 20 elections in Pennsylvania saw a total of 67 state legislative primaries. Contests were held for four Democratic and three Republican primaries in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives held 35 Democratic primaries and 25 Republican primaries. In those elections, forty-one incumbents faced primary competition; 3 in the Senate and 38 in the House. Challengers defeated one incumbent in the Senate and three incumbents in the primary elections.